As requested, here is a new beginner's guide to skinning with skinner4moto - a great program created by Knapster. This guide contains all of the info you need to get started creating and installing your own skins. It does not cover all of the functionality of the programs involved, but it gives you a good starting point to explore the possibilities on your own.

*Note – You can download the Motorola Modding Software Suite, which contains all of the software listed above (except for the photo editor) by following the link in my sig.

Once skinner4moto is installed, ensure that you have the most current ski definitions by downloading this file and unpacking its contents to your C:\...\skinner4moto\data folder.

Brief Overview of skinner4moto

1. The menu bar can be seen on the left hand side of the screen. This will allow you to open skins, save skins, control program options, etc.

2. The preview window is just to the right of the menu bar near the top of the screen. This shows you what the standby screen of the skin you are working on will look like on your phone. The view settings can be found just to the right of the preview window.

3. The grouped elements window can be found to the right of the preview window settings. This window allows you to browse through various common elements of your skin. When you highlight an item in this window, the controls for each selected item will appear to the right at the top of your screen and can be easily adjusted.

4. Beneath the preview window and grouped elements window, you will find a series of radio buttons. These buttons will be used to select and view different parameters that you would like to adjust within your skin.

5. The bottom portion of skinner4moto contains the spreadsheet view of the various skin elements.

Creating a New Skin

For new skinners, the best way to start is to use a skin you like as a template. For this guide we will use the stock Moto skin that comes on many Motorola phones.

1. First, open skinner4moto. The Moto skin will load automatically when you start the program.

2. Start by adding a wallpaper that you like. Make sure that it is the same dimensions as the wallpaper currently used with the skin.a. With “Wallpaper” selected in the grouped elements window, click on “choose pic” in the top right-hand corner.b. Browse to the JPEG or GIF file that you would like to use as the wallpaper for your skin.

3. Now you can start making some basic adjustments to items on the standby screen like digital clock, analog clock, date, operator, and the icons.a. Choose the item that you would like to adjust in the grouped elements window. “Operator Font” is chosen in the example below.

b. Adjust the font color, outline color, and color transparencies with the color controls in the top right-hand section of your screen. The color can be changed by clicking on the colored box next to “Color”. The transparency must be a value between 0 and 255, where 0 is solid and 255 is invisible.c. Use the position controls at the bottom to move the item up, down, left, and right.

4. Once you have positioned all standby screen items to your liking, you can now begin creating/adding new images to your skin. These images will make up all of the graphics contained within your skin.a. Click on the “Pictures” radio button (highlighted in blue below).b. Scroll to the image that you would like to change in the spreadsheet view. Once it is highlighted, you will see the image you have selected in the window to the left of the spreadsheet view.

c. Click on the “edit GIF” button at the top of the spreadsheet view. (*Note that you should use an image editor capable of creating GIF files with transparency, such as the ones mentioned in the tools section of this guide. To choose an editor click the “Options” button on the menu bar, then click the “select extern GIF editor” button and browse to the EXE file of your chosen editor).d. Use your image editor to make your desired changes or delete the image entirely and use the empty space as a template for your new image. Use your GIF animator to compile any animated GIFs that you would like included in your skin (such as highlighted icons and the menu button animation).e. Save the finished image in a new dedicated folder on your PC as you will be editing many GIFs. Make sure that you keep the exact same filename. Any changes to the filename will result in errors. f. Now back in skinner4moto click on the “change gif” button and browse to your newly created image.

5. Once you have edited all of the images to your liking, you should now edit the various font/object colors within your skin.a. Click on the “Colors” radio button (highlighted in blue below).

b. In the spreadsheet window, you will see the various editable items in your skin (identified in columns H and I) along with their associated color and transparency. (*Note that many descriptions are missing in column I. If there is a color that you would like to change and it is not defined in column I, you must unfortunately find it by trial and error.)c. Adjust a color by highlighting it and clicking on the colored box in the top left corner of the spreadsheet window.

6. Once all of your desired changes have been made, click the “Save as...” button on the menu bar. Name your skin exactly as you wish it to appear in the skins menu on your phone.

1. Connect your phone to your PC using your USB cable only (Bluetooth is not supported).

2. Open Skins Manager and wait for it to display a list of the current skins on your phone.

3. Click the “Install” button.

4. On the “SKI patches” screen, DO NOT check any boxes. Simply click on “OK”.

5. Now browse to the skin you would like to install and select the SKI file. The skin and wallpaper will be installed to your phone.

6. Once the skin is finished being installed and your skin list is refreshed, click on the “More” button and restart your phone.

Skinner4moto Tips

1. When opening a skin, the SKI file must be in the same directory on your PC as all of the related DAT files and the wallpaper.

2. Check the “Light-Skin” box in the menu bar if your skin will use the original icons on your phone. If you insert new icons into your skin make sure that the “Light-Skin” box is unchecked.

3. If you would like to add multiple images to your skin (such as an entire set of icons from another skin) you do not need to add them one at a time. Skinner4moto creates a temporary folder in your skin directory that contains all of the GIFs in your skin. This folder is only present while your skin is open in. You can access it by clicking on the “gif directory” button at the top of the spreadsheet window while in the Pictures view. Simply copy all of the new images into the gifs folder and save your skin in skinner4moto. Be sure that you close the gifs folder before exiting skinner4moto or an error may occur.

4. Make sure that the transparency of the “soft button font normal” and “soft button font pressed” grouped elements is set to 0 along with any font outlines. Any value other than 0 may cause errors to occur.

justshootme

Aug 24 2006, 10:48 AM

E.Z ei, please tell me wer to find the application for skins in my fon, im using a moto l7.. i downloaded a skin wer i cant seem to find it when i removed my fon fron the pc connection?

happy_myfriend

Sep 10 2006, 03:09 PM

hey knapster how uploading in a cel motorola E1 pleases help me

dohon

Sep 12 2006, 12:25 PM

hello...so wat configuration should i use to install that skin into my handphone...and is it compatible with my hp...i use motorola V3i....

I'm not sure what your question is but you can download v2.0 of my suite by following the link in my sig.

fatwilly

Nov 11 2006, 02:36 PM

when i try n use skinner4moto it says that bgd.dll was not found

please help

Braggrebel

Nov 15 2006, 05:20 PM

QUOTE(adonisdemon @ Oct 9 2006, 03:11 AM)

QUOTE(augustborn99 @ Sep 15 2006, 02:28 PM)

installation instructions are in the FAQ[right][snapback]236244[/snapback][/right]

[right][snapback]242854[/snapback][/right]

QUOTE(EchoZulu @ Oct 19 2006, 08:51 PM)

QUOTE

*Note – You can download the Motorola Modding Software Suite, which contains all of the software listed above (except for the photo editor) by following the link in my sig.

[right][snapback]245851[/snapback][/right]

zyck18

Dec 16 2006, 06:00 AM

QUOTE(Braggrebel @ Nov 15 2006, 05:20 PM)

QUOTE(adonisdemon @ Oct 9 2006, 03:11 AM)

QUOTE(augustborn99 @ Sep 15 2006, 02:28 PM)

installation instructions are in the FAQ[right][snapback]236244[/snapback][/right]

[right][snapback]242854[/snapback][/right]

QUOTE(EchoZulu @ Oct 19 2006, 08:51 PM)

QUOTE

*Note – You can download the Motorola Modding Software Suite, which contains all of the software listed above (except for the photo editor) by following the link in my sig.

[right][snapback]245851[/snapback][/right]

[right][snapback]255009[/snapback][/right]

zyck18

Dec 16 2006, 06:06 AM

Hi everyone I am just a new member of this site and I do have a lot of queation about my unit motorola V3x. Its all about the themes and skins coz i've been trying to download and upload it to my cellphones the themes but i'm having a hard time to understand how it will be done, i went to all expert in motorola but they couldnt fixed it too so dats why I decided to do it by myself. Is there anyone who can help me to this problem pls do help me.....! I'll be expecting guys for your help happy holiday to everyone.....

organics

Dec 16 2006, 11:22 AM

I've installed the skin manager but when I open it, step 2 doesn't happen, what should I do?

thanks a lot

Night-Rider

Dec 16 2006, 11:19 PM

QUOTE(organics @ Dec 17 2006, 12:52 AM)

I've installed the skin manager but when I open it, step 2 doesn't happen, what should I do?

thanks a lot[right][snapback]264743[/snapback][/right]

Does that mean it doesn't detect your phone?If what i am saying is right then please visit this thread if u follow each and every step as wriiten in this guide then u will surely get ur problem sorted out. Good Luck!

organics

Dec 17 2006, 05:55 AM

QUOTE(Night-Rider @ Dec 16 2006, 11:19 PM)

Does that mean it doesn't detect your phone?If what i am saying is right then please visit this thread if u follow each and every step as wriiten in this guide then u will surely get ur problem sorted out. Good Luck! [right][snapback]264856[/snapback][/right]

thanks again, I'll let you know how it goes

EDIT: I've downloaded the theme I wanted but it didn't appear pn my phone(V3) what to do?

EchoZulu

Dec 17 2006, 08:53 AM

Have you read the guide in the Moto FAQs detailing how to install themes? Check the FAQs link in my sig.

Totogasm

Dec 30 2006, 04:41 PM

Does skinner4moto work for L6? My sister has a L6 and we never figured out if we're able to create themes for it.

EchoZulu

Dec 30 2006, 05:12 PM

Sorry, the L6 doesn't support skins.

Calls

Jan 8 2007, 06:33 AM

Hey, I have a Motorola v3 and I'm trying to use the tutorial I've seen above to make my PC detect it... I found RSD Lite 3.1 on Google, and I'm downloading it now. I don't know if this will work, but RSD Lite 2.7 didn't. It was only a .msi file, which, when opened simply did nothing. It only said "Preparing to install..." then, nothing. Hope 3.1 will work!EDIT: It still won't work! The file I downloaded is an 8 MB .msi file, which, when opened, does nothing. What should I do next? Please help!

Calls

Jan 8 2007, 06:59 AM

Sorry for double-posting, but it seems that it worked! Now I have RSD Lite 3.1 installed, and all of the 5 drivers installed.

The only thing I can't get working is the Skins Manager. If i start it when the phone is in Bootloader mode, it won't detect it. If I start it when the phone is running normally (Normal Mode), then the program crashes, and says that "Windows has encountered a problem and needs to close. We are sorry for the inconvenience..." thing. I dunno what to do, please help me!

EchoZulu

Jan 8 2007, 07:31 AM

Have you tried opening Skins Mgr with RSD Lite open and connected? Also, what version of Skins Mgr do you have? Try searching google for the latest version if the one in my suite isn't working for you.

Calls

Jan 9 2007, 07:18 AM

Thanks, I found the solution! Yaay I love my new skin!!! Thanks, guys!

nowaii

Jan 22 2007, 11:32 AM

Hey Zulu, I tried to contact you via PM but cant. This problem gave me a headache and got no idea how to solve it. Sorry if posted in wrong section.

I just bought Motorola V3 yesterday and when 'playing' with it, I accidentally deleted all 3 themes: Moto, Scarlet and one more. Thus now I cant change anything from ringtones. I googled the problem but still cant solve it. Then google lead me to this forum and I read somewhere in the forum you said Skinner4moto got Moto theme, just in case you deleted it. However, I got the software right now but cant find the theme.

So plz if someone got the file Moto.tcf (that is what I learnt by google it), then hope you can send me and show me how to put it back to the phone.

Have a look over at the pinned topics in the Moto forum and the Moto User Support forum. You'll find all the info you need to get connected.

the_untamed_oger

Apr 20 2007, 03:26 AM

ok ill do that. thanx

the_untamed_oger

Apr 20 2007, 04:21 AM

Yo thanks big time for all your guides. IT worked. I can now finally install skins on my phone.

Again thanks.

alvin0619

Apr 23 2007, 03:43 AM

hi echozulu.you are so helpful and i admire u for being one.i'm alvin and i'm almost computer illiterate.my weakness is following instructions.i'm using motorola v3x and i really can't install a skin manager so i can change the skins of my phone.please help me, i will not ask you to if i can do this all by myself. my email ad is notmyreale_mail<email snipped>.com and if it is possible to send me the whole software, please do it for me. i will really appreciate your help. thank you in advance.

EchoZulu

Apr 23 2007, 07:23 AM

Sorry Alvin, but email addresses are not allowed to be posted on this forum. If you check out this topic:

You'll find a link to download Skins Manager (just click on the name of the software). Hope that helps!

mss76

May 10 2007, 03:49 AM

xcuse me.. im newbie. can any nbody hellp me. i have downloaded all the software nede. But when i open the skin manger my usb drive suddenly missing..can i any body help to install my new themes?my phone model is v3x..tq

thapet204

May 28 2007, 10:29 AM

i got moto v3x too.. ive downloaded all the necessary program for skin (rsd lite 2.7 , skin manager v 0.51) also downloaded skinner4moto v0.2.9 beta and p2k commander 3.3.. all of this program works.. but when i downloaded theme from mobile9 for moto razr v3 and try to install it in my unit.. the skin doesnt work.. i mean it all messed up.. what seems to be the problem?

EchoZulu

May 31 2007, 08:54 AM

Make sure that you are trying to install v3x skins and not v3 skins. Check motox.info for plenty of skins.

certifieddesi

Aug 5 2007, 10:58 PM

This thing didn't work for motorola krzr k1.... does anyone know how to install the skins on moto krzr k1

liwang

Aug 12 2007, 08:51 AM

HELP!! i got a MOTO L7i and i really dont like the skins installed in it... and i have followed all the instructions stated in this thread on how to install skins to a motorola phone.... but my data cable dont seem to work, it wont not recognized my phone... i tried so many times but failed.... but i can install games to the phone via bluetooth.... is there a way to send the skins/themes to the phone using the bluetooth ONLY?

i appreciate any answers i get.. thanks ahead...

adonisdemon

Aug 12 2007, 10:20 AM

QUOTE

is there a way to send the skins/themes to the phone using the bluetooth ONLY?

plain and simple, no there isn't.

liwang

Aug 12 2007, 07:11 PM

okay thanks... i guess i just had to go to a motorola center to fix my problem....

soulblade001

Aug 19 2007, 12:32 PM

hey echozulu!what is the current version of skinner4moto you are using?

tnhx

es4me

Aug 21 2007, 03:15 AM

I tried many different programs but they just dont recognize my v3. Does skinner4moto does the same?

devilmaycry_ub

Sep 5 2007, 07:58 PM

Hey can u tell me where can i get the motoskinner ???? please PM me its link....

organics

Sep 8 2007, 02:51 AM

help! (again) my previous phone was the V3 but i switched phones and now im using Z3, im trying to install skins, so i follow the procedure from this site: www.motox.info/showthread.php?t=18372 (like i was told before)

steps 7 & 8 works the first time but it doesn't work for:"Accessories Interface""Data Logging MCU Interface""Test Command Interface"

my phone still isn't detected by skiman

tnx really if u could help me

wengweng2003

Oct 11 2007, 11:18 AM

on what motorolla phone models do these themes work? does it cater to A1200 (motoming)?

shan_7

Oct 12 2007, 09:05 AM

how to set icons in skinner4moto.......

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